Page 70 of Embracing Desire

“I thought Miss Mazie was at the shop.”Damn, this was all he needed.He wanted to talk to Katie and find out what was bugging her.

“No, she’s been in the kitchen,” Katie said.

“We’ll talk about this later.”And they would.He would get to the bottom of her sudden disinterest because it gnawed at his gut and heart.He dropped a soft kiss on her nose.

He found Miss Mazie standing in the living room.“What do you need, Miss Mazie?”

“Can you come into the kitchen for a minute?”

Jed nodded then followed Miss Mazie into the kitchen.She probably needed him to pull something off a shelf for her.

“Jed, I’m worried.”Her hands tangled in her apron.

“I’ve fixed the lights.”He hadn’t expected this.“It was probably just kids.”

“That’s fine.But it’s Katie I’m worried about.”She moved to the sink, her back to him.

Jed stiffened.“Why?”What was going on that they didn’t know about?

Miss Mazie turned from the sink, and Jed could see the concern in her eyes.“She’s been getting phone calls.”

“Hang-ups?”

“No, and I’m not going to elaborate.You need to ask her.”Miss Mazie shook her head.“She’s going to be angry enough that I told you about them.”

“Don’t you worry.”Jed touched Miss Mazie’s shoulder.“I’ll talk with her.She won’t be angry because you’re concerned.”

“Jed.”Miss Mazie placed her hand on his arm.“Please tread carefully.”

Jed smiled at her.“Miss Mazie, I would cut my right arm off before I hurt Katie.”

“You’re such a good man.Just like Ry.”She patted his cheek and then went to check something in the oven.

Jed digested Miss Mazie’s words before he marched out of the kitchen to Katie’s office.Her head was down as she typed on the computer.He didn’t want to disturb her working.But he wasn’t going to leave without telling her goodbye.

“Katie.”

She raised her head.Her green eyes somewhat unfocused and clouded.

Jed didn’t like it.He made a spur-of-the-moment decision.

“Would you pack a bag and come stay with Ry and me?”At least then they could keep her safe.

Katie shook her head.“I can’t leave Gran alone.”

He understood.“I don’t like it.What happened?”

“Jed.”Her eyes became brighter.“Please leave it for now.I have a ton of work to do, and I really want to get it done.”

“Fine.”He didn’t like it, but he did understand her request to get work done.“But you need to tell us if anything out of the ordinary happens.”

“Okay.”A ghost of a smile crossed her lips.“Thanks for fixing the lights and taking care of my car.”

“My pleasure.”Her mood seemed better, but something was off since her smile didn’t reach her eyes.Tonight, he and Ry would find out what was bugging her.

Chapter Fifteen

Saturday morning, Katie smiled as she strolled from the front of Ry and Jed’s house out to the barn.Her mood was much better than yesterday.The damage to her car and the security lights had shaken her more than she wanted to admit to Ry and Jed.

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